The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-10-08

wards Charley, and ! could no. hslp
feeling she would pre:or having him
condemned than acquitted.
One day Mrs Lamont sent me " her
wardrobe 10 bring a dress that wanted
altering. IL was not where she said;
and in seeking il. exposed, hanging
in dark corner. some garments which
/ thought looked sadly out Of place
among such number Of fine lady's
dresses. They were suit Of gentle
mems clothes s-hcr husband 5. perhaps,
hung there by mistake But. no! As
! had replaced jhc dress that hung over
them. ! saw that there were broad gold
straps upon the shoulders Of the coat,
and Mr.. Lamont had never been in the
army.
| remembered what the cashier at
the bank had said about cpaulets in
connection with the presenter Of the
forged check but should have thought
no more Of il if had not met Mrs. La
mont Mt the door Of her apartment.
coming 10 see what kept me. She
eyed me narrowly, and asked why /
was so long.
IL could not find the dress" | said.
and she seemed satisfied; but ! caught
her eyes fixed upon me with curious
expression several times that day IL
set me thinking | wondered II Mrs.
Lamont had n brother in the army, and
il that uniform belonged To him. !
wondered what was in II long, narrow
box which ! had observed in an inside
pocket Of the coat.
The next time | went 10 Mrs. La
mont's wardrobe for her. the lady was
in her room; but | contriyed, when her
back was turned. to slip the cover on
that box just enough to peep inside.
II contained n pair Of false whiskers So
like Charley's, | should have thought
them his. if | thought they would
come or
thought more deeply than ever
after that; aud one day. when Mrs. La
mont had gone out shopping, ] tried
the door of her apartment. 1t was
lockcd of course | expected that, and
taking from my pocket keys which
had procured for that purpose, ] tried
them one after another until found
one that would iit
Having obtained an entrance. | did
not 90 to the wardrobc-l had seen
enough Of that; went to the lady's
writing-dcsk "a dainty pearl and ebony
affair; it was a present from her hus-
band before their marriage.
had to search long time before !
found what | wanted, and was afraid
every moment Mrs. Lamont might
return. But my search was rewarded
at length; and replacing every thing rs
| had found it, without removing I'm
article. turned to 90.
Mr.. Lamont had returned home un-
cxpcctcdly. and came up 10 his wifc's
apartment. He stood ON the threshold,
regarding me with stern and amazed
countcnancc. caught ut the back of
a chair TO sustain myself for the room
began to whirl and my breath came in
gasps.
Now or never" thought |. "It's
for Charley"
"Mr. Lamont" said |. "wait mo-
mcnt, and hear who am before you
Judge you
He looked at me inquiringly.
81 am Charley Stanford's promised
wife My business in Mrs. Lannon'S
apartments was To- discover what suS-
pcctcd | should find hcrc--proofs of
his innocence of the crime laid to his
charge have found them.
Mr.. Lamont stared at me in most
amazed manner.
Young woman, are You aware of
what you are saying?'
For answer. opened the writing
desk again, and showed him what had
found there 1t was merely part of
sheet traced over and over with his
name.
"You will find" | said. rs | gave it
to him. "that this part of sheet of
of paper has the same watcr-mark rs
that which was found in Mr.. Stanford's
apartment, and that all the paper which
bears also the same remarkable spcci-
mems of caligraphy bears also the
same watcr-mark aS a quantity in Mrs.
Lannon'S writing desk Perhaps YOU
never knew. sir. that Mr.. Stanford once
gave Miss RycrSon instructions in pen
manShip.'
He had taken the bit of paper from
my hand. lie was looking blankly
enough nj it rs went on.
"You will find, sir. in that wardrobe,
the very suit of clothes Mrs. Lamont
wore when She presented the check ut
the bank, The suit is gentleman $
uniform II belonged To her brother,
but it will fit her; and there are false
whS>crs and mustachcs in "A box in
one of the pockets. That Mrs. La
mont is the author Of rha' check. the
contrivcr of all this trouble. let her
deny if she dare"
addressed my last words 10 Mrs.
Lamont herself | flung them at her
with almost vindictivcncss, as she
rushed into the room, the picture of
guilty CONSERVATION.
She made some attempt at defense.
bat her husband stopped her. Open
ing the wardrobe, he saw what WAS
Lhoye, and came back 10 her with
face that grew red and white alter
natcly with shame and horror
They hu>hcd the matterup somehow.